Adrien Brody successfully blocked the U.S. home video release of the Dario Argento's latest horror film until he is fully paid for his work.

A federal judge on Monday ruled that Dario Argento and those behind the film cannot distribute or sell "Giallo" in the United States.

In the film, Brody plays an Italian American detective hunting a serial killer in Italy.

The Hollywood Reporter first reported the Oscar winner's $3 million lawsuit last month. Brody argued that producers had lied to keep him from walking off the set after finding out a week into production it was underfunded and the producers had not yet paid him $640,000 into an escrow account.

To keep the star attached to the project, Brody was told new funding was lined up tied to the $2 million sale of Italian distribution rights.

Brody was asked to sign an agreement to defer his payment in exchange for the "absolute right to withhold consent to the use of his likeness in the Picture" until he was paid.

The DVD cover features two photos of Brody's face.

Brody was unable to block the film's sale altogether, but the judge's ruling makes it possible his likeness will not be able to be used in the film or to promote it.

The judge wrote that Brody "is suffering, and will continue to suffer, immediate and irreparable harm" without the injunction.

An e-mail message seeking comment from Hannibal Pictures, which co- produced the film, was not immediately returned.